Opportunities From: Connect2Community

We welcome any quantity of non-religious cards or placemats with messages of encouragement/thinking of you, with examples below. We appreciate if cards come without envelopes and are unsigned (we add a note that they are from a caring community member). Once received, they will be sent out to clients with their meal deliveries.  

Due to the diversity of our clientele, Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels typically steers away from phrases such as "I love you, you are loved, hugs, kisses, etc." on cards/placemats. Sentiments of kindness, care, positive humor, and joy are welcomed and appreciated!  

Example sentiments: 

Have a nice day! 

May your day be filled with joy. 

Sending you warm and caring wishes. 

Hope you have a wonderful day! 

Your community cares about you!   

Hope this card brings a smile to your face. 

I hope you have a great day! 

Here is a card to help bring sunshine to your day. 

Thinking of you.  

Personal Care/Pantry Item Needs 

AAMOW has a personal care items pantry that clients can access free of charge, and items are delivered with their meals. Donations of the following items for the pantry are being sought on an ongoing basis: 

Boxes of tissues  

Individually wrapped rolls of paper towel  

Individually wrapped rolls of toilet paper  

Laundry detergent (minimally scented) 

Antibacterial hand soap (minimally scented)  

Antibacterial dish soap (minimally scented)  

Antibacterial bar soap (minimally scented)  

Individual containers of disinfecting wipes 

Large print activity books (crossword, word search, sudoku, coloring books, etc.) 

Colored pencils or markers 

Donations can be mailed or dropped off in the purple container in the foyer of our office between 8-11am and 12-4pm Monday through Saturday.      

Meal Delivery Volunteers are in high demand!

Meal delivery volunteers serve a critical role in our program and in the lives of our neighbors who are homebound due to their health status. Volunteers choose the day (Monday-Saturday) and frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, substitute) for volunteering. Meals are picked up at the Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels office at 11:30am, and routes typically take 1-2 hours to complete. 

Meal delivery volunteer requirements:

All volunteers must complete AAMOW’s full volunteer onboarding process, which consists of the following:

The full onboarding process can typically be completed within 2-3 weeks depending on how quickly applicants are able to address each of the required tasks.

AAMOW welcomes any quantity of non-religious cards or placemats with messages of encouragement/thinking of you. Below are some example messages. We appreciate if cards come without envelopes and are unsigned (we add a note that they are from a caring community member). Once received, they will be sent out to clients with their meal deliveries.  

Due to the diversity of our clientele, Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels typically steers away from phrases such as "I love you, you are loved, hugs, kisses, etc." on cards/placemats. However, sentiments of kindness, care, positive humor, and joy are welcomed and appreciated!  

Example sentiments: 

Have a nice day! 

May your day be filled with joy. 

Sending you warm and caring wishes. 

Hope you have a wonderful day! 

Your community cares about you!   

Hope this card brings a smile to your face. 

I hope you have a great day! 

Here is a card to help bring sunshine to your day. 

Thinking of you. 

Personal Care/Pantry Item Needs 

AAMOW has a personal care items pantry that clients can access free of charge, and items are delivered with their meals. Donations of the following items for the pantry are being sought on an ongoing basis: 

Boxes of tissues  

Individually wrapped rolls of paper towel  

Individually wrapped rolls of toilet paper  

Laundry detergent (minimally scented) 

Antibacterial hand soap (minimally scented)  

Antibacterial dish soap (minimally scented)  

Antibacterial bar soap (minimally scented)  

Individual containers of disinfecting wipes 

Large print activity books (crossword, word search, sudoku, coloring books, etc.) 

Colored pencils or markers 

Cards, placemats, and new/unused personal care/pantry donations can be mailed or dropped off in the purple container in the foyer of our office between 8-11am and 12-4pm Monday through Saturday.     

Meal delivery volunteers serve a critical role in our program and in the lives of our neighbors who are homebound due to their health status. Volunteers choose the day (Monday-Saturday) and frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, substitute) for volunteering. Meals are picked up at the Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels office at 11:30am, and routes typically take 1-2 hours to complete. 

Meal delivery volunteer requirements:

All volunteers must complete AAMOW’s full volunteer onboarding process, which consists of the following:

The full onboarding process can typically be completed within 2-3 weeks depending on how quickly applicants are able to address each of the required tasks.

Victory Garden Volunteer | Staebler Farm County Park, Superior Township | Year-Round
Staebler Farm County Park has a Victory Garden that is looking to be re-energized by MULTIPLE VOLUNTEERS to help support the Teaching Kitchen at the Michigan Folk School.
Victory Gardens, also known as war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks during World War I and II.
Detailed Information Flyer found here:https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/90ba08a8-9110-4c85-a1ea-3a96655be233

SPRING: 8-10 hours a week*
Clean-up garden beds, getting them ready for planting.

SUMMER: 3-4 hours a week*
Maintenance of the garden, including harvesting crops grown.

FALL: 1-2 hours a week*
Maintenance of the garden, including harvesting crops grown. Pest monitoring.

WINTER: Hours project-based
Garden Maintenance and planning.

If this opportunity sounds interesting to YOU, email parks-volunteering@washtenaw.org (VICTORY GARDEN in subject) or register online below.
NOTE: Registration constitutes an application of interest rather than official enrollment. After registering, you will be contacted by the Volunteer Coordinator with further information.
Volunteers ages 16+ welcome.
TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED. A basic understanding of gardening principles is needed. Multiple volunteer positions available. Most volunteer work will be done independently, depending on YOUR schedule.
*Hours are estimates and will be shared by multiple volunteers

Elms Family and Community Services is seeking mentors for its 2025 - 26 Youth Programs.  Mentors will assist in guiding middle and high school youth.  The mentor will serve as lead support to youth involved in EFCS programs, assist in facilitating group workshops and coordinating experiential learning opportunities for program participants.

This position would require 2 hours for weekly program meetings with participants and 4 hours monthly for engagement with mentees.

All volunteers must complete a background check and must be cleared as a school volunteer with participating schools.  Click RESPOND in the upper right corner of the screen and you will be prompted to complete the background check questionnaire. This may open a second window.

The Sterling Volunteer background check will come at no cost to the volunteer. Once the background check is complete (average 1-2 business days), you will receive an email notifying you that you may complete your registration. There is a School Volunteer background check required, which will also come at no cost to the volunteer.

Please visit our website at elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org, to learn more about us!

Elms Family and Community Services (EFCS) is searching for a Volunteer Bookkeeper with excellent accounting skills, who is committed to giving back to the community. The Volunteer Bookkeeper will oversee the EFCS bookkeeping functions and will be responsible for managing financial activities, including financial statement preparation, trend analyses, reporting, as well as, preparation and presentation of financial information to the organization's Board of Directors. 

The commitment for this position is 5-10 hours monthly.

All volunteers and sponsored applicants must complete a background check. Click RESPOND in the upper right corner of the screen and you will be prompted to complete the background check questionnaire. This may open a second window. 

The background check will come at no cost. Once the background check is complete (average 1-2 business days), you will receive an email notifying you that you may complete your registration.

Please visit our website at elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org, to learn more about us!

Our amazing care team at Hope Clinic is looking for volunteer Clinicians available to help at our Westland and Ypsilanti free clinic locations. (Alternatively, we are also looking for clinicians who are willing to offer pro-bono services to Hope Clinic patients at their own offices.)

This is a wonderful opportunity to give of your time and talents to help your neighbors in need. If you are a licensed clinician, we hope you’ll consider volunteering and helping in our effort to make lives better!

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

*If you know of other clinicians who might be interested, please help us get the word out!

We are in need of help on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at our Westland location and additional days/times at our Ypsilanti location. This is a wonderful opportunity to give of your time and talents to help your neighbors in need!

If you are a licensed registered nurse, we hope you’ll consider volunteering and helping in our effort to make lives better!

*If you know of other Registered Nurses who might be interested, please help us get the word out!

Hope Clinic offers free medical care to those without insurance, and we need folks to be there for them when they walk in the door!

We are looking for volunteers who can come on a weekly basis to help answer phones, schedule appointments, check people in/out, etc. Hope Clinic has two locations - one in Ypsilanti and one in Westland/Wayne. People are needed at both!

The ideal people in this role are those with previous medical or front desk experience, but not required. What is required, though, is for someone who is:

- Able to commit to the same weekly 4hr shift for an entire year (due to the amount of training)
- Comfortable answering phones
- Able to operate in our three software systems (Practice Fusion, Quickbase, and CHAMPS - training provided)
- Detail-oriented
- Friendly and personable


If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

Hope Clinic offers free medical care to those without insurance, and we need folks to help in the Pharmacy!

We are looking for Pharmacists/Pharmacy Techs or RNs who can come on a regular basis to help in the Pharmacy/Dispensary This is more of a physician’s supply closet and an RN can legally dispense meds under clinicians’ orders. We do not fill prescriptions that come from outside Hope Clinic.

Requirements:

Able to commit to a regular shift for at least a few months

Compassionate

Friendly and personable

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

Hope Clinic is an amazing non-profit where the efforts of volunteers are effectively multiplied to help make lives better for those in need. Our dedicated volunteer care-providers truly provide a haven of help + healing.

Food drives are a great way to engage your group and support food-insecure neighbors. At Hope Clinic, our choice-based pantry lets clients select the items for themselves—promoting dignity and empowering them to make decisions based on their needs and tastes.

We accept unexpired, shelf-stable items, including:

We encourage donations of the same quality you'd buy for your own family—brand-name or organic items show our clients we believe they should get the very best.

For ideas and more information, visit our website https://thehopeclinic.org/projects/2020/11/12/how-to-host-a-food-drive

Hope Clinic offers free, whole person healthcare to those without insurance, and we need folks to be there for them when they walk in the door!

We are looking for volunteers who can come on a somewhat regular basis to help answer phones, schedule appointments, etc. Volunteers at the front desk help clients with a myriad of inquiries and referrals for all of Hope Clinic’s free services such as medical care, dental care, food programs, baby essentials, laundry services, and a variety of on-site behavioral health services.

We hope you’ll consider volunteering to help this dedicated team make lives better in our community!

Please either respond to this opportunity, or fill out our Basic Volunteer Interest Form.

Hope Clinic serves hot meals 6 nights per week out of our commercial kitchen. To keep everything in working order, the grease traps (2 of them) need to be cleaned on a monthly basis. It is a smelly job, but extremely important!

Note: Hope Clinic will provide some supplies, but groups will need to bring their own gloves, trash bags, and disposable dish rags. One group member should also be capable of lifting 50lbs high enough to put waste in a dumpster.

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a group volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/voluntee

Our amazing care team at Hope Clinic is looking for volunteer Clinicians available to help at our Westland and Ypsilanti free clinic locations. (Alternatively, we are also looking for clinicians who are willing to offer pro-bono services to Hope Clinic patients at their own offices.)

This is a wonderful opportunity to give of your time and talents to help your neighbors in need. If you are a licensed clinician, we hope you’ll consider volunteering and helping in our effort to make lives better!

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

*If you know of other clinicians who might be interested, please help us get the word out!

We are in need of help on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at our Westland location and additional days/times at our Ypsilanti location. This is a wonderful opportunity to give of your time and talents to help your neighbors in need!

If you are a licensed registered nurse, we hope you’ll consider volunteering and helping in our effort to make lives better!

*If you know of other Registered Nurses who might be interested, please help us get the word out!

Hope Clinic offers free medical care to those without insurance, and we need folks to be there for them when they walk in the door!

We are looking for volunteers who can come on a weekly basis to help answer phones, schedule appointments, check people in/out, etc. Hope Clinic has two locations - one in Ypsilanti and one in Westland/Wayne. People are needed at both!

The ideal people in this role are those with previous medical or front desk experience, but not required. What is required, though, is for someone who is:

- Able to commit to the same weekly shift for an entire year (due to the amount of training)

- Comfortable answering phones

- Able to operate in our three software systems (Practice Fusion, Quickbase, and CHAMPS - training provided)

- Detail-oriented

- Friendly and personable

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

Hope Clinic offers free, whole-person healthcare to those without insurance, and we need folks to be there for them when they walk in the door!

Lobby Runners help with a variety of tasks at our Ypsilanti location, including: Helping provide lobby access/check-in for volunteers; Helping receive/organize drop-off donations and deliveries that flow in to us throughout the day from generous donors; Helping the Front Desk team with varied tasks/projects as needed.

Lobby Runner volunteers should have ability to lift up to 50 pounds and to work on your feet for extended periods. However, there will also be down times when you might be able to read or do homework. Lobby Runner volunteer shifts are available Monday - Saturday. You will be provided access to an online scheduler system so you can simply sign up when it works for you - no recurring schedule commitment is necessary.

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

It is getting to be a busy time for our lobby operations, and we'd love to see the Lobby Runner shifts filled to better provide much-needed help in all we do each day!

Hope Clinic offers free medical care to those without insurance, and we need folks to help in the Pharmacy!

We are looking for Pharmacists/Pharmacy Techs or RNs who can come on a regular basis to help in the Pharmacy/Dispensary This is more of a physician’s supply closet and an RN can legally dispense meds under clinicians’ orders. We do not fill prescriptions that come from outside Hope Clinic.

Requirements:

Able to commit to a regular shift for at least a few months

Compassionate

Friendly and personable

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

Hope Clinic is an amazing non-profit where the efforts of volunteers are effectively multiplied to help make lives better for those in need. Our dedicated volunteer care-providers truly provide a haven of help + healing.

Food drives are a great way to engage your group and support food-insecure neighbors. At Hope Clinic, our choice-based pantry lets clients select the items for themselves—promoting dignity and empowering them to make decisions based on their needs and tastes.

We accept unexpired, shelf-stable items, including:

We encourage donations of the same quality you'd buy for your own family—brand-name or organic items show our clients we believe they should get the very best.

For ideas and more information, visit our website https://thehopeclinic.org/projects/2020/11/12/how-to-host-a-food-drive

Hope Clinic offers free, whole person healthcare to those without insurance, and we need folks to be there for them when they walk in the door!

We are looking for volunteers who can come on a somewhat regular basis to help answer phones, schedule appointments, etc. Volunteers at the front desk help clients with a myriad of inquiries and referrals for all of Hope Clinic’s free services such as medical care, dental care, food programs, baby essentials, laundry services, and a variety of on-site behavioral health services.

The ideal people in this role are those who are:

We hope you’ll consider volunteering to help this dedicated team make lives better in our community!

Please either respond to this opportunity, or fill out our Basic Volunteer Interest Form.

Hope Clinic serves hot meals 6 nights per week out of our commercial kitchen. To keep everything in working order, the grease traps (2 of them) need to be cleaned on a monthly basis. It is a smelly job, but extremely important!

Note: Hope Clinic will provide some supplies, but groups will need to bring their own gloves, trash bags, and disposable dish rags. One group member should also be capable of lifting 50lbs high enough to put waste in a dumpster.

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a group volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

Do you love being outside? If so, HAVEN could use your help!

WE are looking for some help on a weekly/biweekly basis! Come help us with weeding around our front beds, sideways and parking lot! Come help us out with sweeping up, picking up trash in our two parking lots! While we have a lawn service, we could use some help with the other things to help spruce up our surroundings!  

HAVEN has a beautiful outdoor meditation garden where staff and clients alike can go for respite, reflection, and community. Now that the summer months have arrived, we are eager to get this garden cleaned up and looking beautiful for folks to use! We are looking for volunteers who are comfortable with any of the following tasks:

Help us make this space beautiful for clients and service providers to enjoy!

Are you handy? If so, come and help us with our list of things that we need done here at HAVEN! 

We are looking for volunteers to help with numerous tasks that we have. If you would like to come in weekly to help us chip away at the list please contact me directly!

kliepshutz@haven-oakland.org

Administrative Support volunteers will provide behind-the-scenes assistance at HAVEN while rarely interacting with clients. Volunteers will perform a range of duties, depending on their personal strengths and interests. Generally, duties will be administrative and/or clerical in nature.

DUTIES

The Administrative Support volunteer will perform the following duties:

·       Maintain program files and organization

·       Data entry

·       Document creation and editing

·       Preparation of training and other event materials

·       Provide planning and preparation support for large annual events

TIME COMMITMENT

·        Mandatory 24-hour Core Skills & Values training

·        Fulfill 8-16 volunteer hours monthly, as scheduled

SUMMARY

The Reception Volunteer will work side-by-side with the Office Manager to ensure things at HAVEN run smoothly for clients, community partners, and staff. Each day will look a little different, but volunteers will sit at the front desk, acting as the first point of contact for visitors to the building and business-related callers. Reception Volunteers will take responsibility for ensuring visitors to HAVEN are appropriately screened before entering. They will assist the Office Manager with a range of clerical and administrative tasks.

·        Be at least 18 years old

·        Have availability during regular business hours (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday)

·        Have excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills

·        Have a moderate proficiency with Microsoft Office programs and have general internet skills

·        Mandatory 24-hour Core Skills & Values training

·        Mandatory Front Desk training

·        Fulfill 8+ volunteer hours monthly, as scheduled

Do you love organizing? Come help us with our donations and donation closets!

We are looking for volunteers to come in a couple days a week to help us organize numerous areas of our donations. We have availability Monday-Friday 10am-4pm. 

We can use volunteers almost every day to help with tagging and hanging out clothes, sorting and putting out household items, folding linens, check in and check out.  Our main volunteer hours are Monday through Friday between 10 AM and 2 PM.  We ask that groups are no larger than 8 people.

Position Summary

As a Crisis & Support Line Specialist, you will serve as a compassionate first point of contact for survivors reaching out to HAVEN’s 24-hour Crisis & Support Line. Volunteers provide emotional support, crisis intervention, safety planning, and resource referrals to individuals impacted by intimate partner violence. This role is critical in ensuring that every caller feels heard, validated, and supported in a non-judgmental and empowering environment.

Key Responsibilities

Position Summary

As a Client Supportive Services Volunteer, you will support the day-to-day operations of HAVEN’s Client Supportive Services team. This role is ideal for someone who is organized, people-centered, and passionate about creating spaces where survivors feel supported and seen. Volunteers in this role will provide both behind-the-scenes administrative support and have the opportunity to facilitate client-centered wellness workshops.

Key Responsibilities

Administrative & Client Support

Outreach & Engagement

Workshop Facilitation

Position Summary

As a Residential Program Volunteer, you will play a vital role in maintaining a supportive, safe, and welcoming environment for survivors and their children residing in HAVEN’s emergency shelter. Volunteers assist with a variety of essential tasks, from front desk duties and providing supplies, to offering emotional support, engaging with children, and keeping the shelter environment clean and organized.

Volunteers can select one or more of the following focus areas based on interest, availability, and agency need:

1. Front Desk & Shelter Support

2. Shelter Operations & Organization

3. Childcare & Playroom Support

4. Kitchen & Pantry Support

The Development Support Volunteer provides assistance to the Development Department through administrative tasks, project support, and donor engagement activities.

Duties

Are you passionate about creating safe, healthy communities and supporting young people and survivors of violence? HAVEN’s Prevention Education (PE) team is looking for dedicated volunteers to join us in delivering meaningful programs and events. Volunteers may choose one or multiple roles based on their interests and availability, and these roles may adapt if needed.

1. Facilitate K–12 School-Based Programming

2. Co-Facilitate Professional Trainings

3. Prevention Education Administrative Support

4. Summer Camp Counselor

The First Response Court Advocate volunteer plays a vital role in ensuring that survivors of sexual assault (SA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) receive the support, resources, and advocacy they need. Volunteers provide education on legal options, guidance through the Personal Protection Order (PPO) process, and act as a supportive presence for survivors at HAVEN, Oakland County hospitals, police departments, and in court.

This volunteer role embodies HAVEN’s commitment to providing survivor-centered, empowerment-based advocacy that is culturally specific, trauma-informed, anti-racist, and inclusive

The First Response Court Advocate volunteer plays a vital role in ensuring that survivors of sexual assault (SA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) receive the support, resources, and advocacy they need. Volunteers provide education on legal options, guidance through the Personal Protection Order (PPO) process, and act as a supportive presence for survivors at HAVEN, Oakland County hospitals, police departments, and in court.

This volunteer role embodies HAVEN’s commitment to providing survivor-centered, empowerment-based advocacy that is culturally specific, trauma-informed, anti-racist, and inclusive.

The First Response Court Advocate volunteer plays a vital role in ensuring that survivors of sexual assault (SA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) receive the support, resources, and advocacy they need. Volunteers provide education on legal options, guidance through the Personal Protection Order (PPO) process, and act as a supportive presence for survivors at HAVEN, Oakland County hospitals, police departments, and in court.

This volunteer role embodies HAVEN’s commitment to providing survivor-centered, empowerment-based advocacy that is culturally specific, trauma-informed, anti-racist, and inclusive.

Court Advocacy

Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center, Ann Arbor | Sat 10/11 | 12-2pm or 2-4:30pm shiftsBe part of a fun and magical event for children of all ages! At the Fall Fest, families will enjoy an afternoon filled with face painting, pumpkin decorating, and refreshments, as well as heart-felt moments and memories that will last for a lifetime. Sign up today for a volunteer shift (Pumpkin Painting, Attendance Tracking & Floater), and make the magic happen! Learn more about the event at this website: https://www.washtenaw.org/4617/Meri-Lou-Murray-Fall-Festival-at-County-EVENT VOLUNTEERS• Shifts 12pm-2pm and 2pm-4:30pm• 2 Volunteers needed for each opportunity. 12 volunteers total needed!• Sign up for a shift below and we will reach out to assign you an opportunity! Or let us know where you would like to go.VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESPUMPKIN PAINTER:• You’re someone who loves to help others to create their Fall pumpkin masterpieces, you’ll work with a team of volunteers and staff to prepare for an afternoon with magic.EVENT ATTENDANCE TRACKER:• You’re a people person who loves bringing joy to children and families.VOLUNTEER FLOATER:• You’ll be the rockstar who has the floating ability to step in where needed.Youth volunteers welcome! Pre-registration required. Must be at least 11 years old. Ages 17 and under need a Parent to accompany.For questions or cancellations, contact the Volunteer Coordinator, parks-volunteering@washtenaw.org.

Monthly community dinners:

Next date: Thursday, October 16th, 3:30-7:15 p.m.

Following date: Thursday, November 20th, 3:30-7:15 p.m.

Brilliant Pontiac’s monthly community dinners offer a welcoming space for neighbors to connect over a shared meal, meaningful conversation, and a sense of belonging. These dinners are designed to strengthen community ties in a warm, inclusive environment. We are looking for volunteers to help set up the dinner area, welcome community members to our Brilliant Pontiac home, plate and serve food, manage fun and interactive child enrichment activities, and assist with cleanup by returning event materials to their original spaces.

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Holiday Extravaganza:

Thursday, December 4th, 3:30-7:45 p.m.

Join us for a festive holiday celebration at our Brilliant Pontiac hub filled with creativity, community, and joy for the whole family!

This special event will bring neighbors together to enjoy holiday-themed cuisine, activities, and a unique gift-wrapping experience. Children will have the chance to select and wrap gifts for their caregivers, while parents and caregivers will do the same for their children! Creating a fun and meaningful exchange of love and appreciation! Families will also enjoy lively holiday activities designed to spark laughter, connection, and togetherness!

Volunteers will play a key role in spreading holiday cheer by event set-up, registration, activity management, food distribution, and post-event clean-up. Your support will ensure that families leave with full hearts and lasting holiday memories!

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Clothing closet organization:

Flexible timing; please inquire

Brilliant Pontiac hosts a community clothing closet that provides free clothing to those in need, helping to boost self-esteem by allowing individuals to feel confident and included with appropriate attire. This is especially crucial for families facing clothing insecurity, as it can positively impact academic performance and social interactions. Volunteers are needed to help assess and organize clothing donations; some heavy lifting is required for this role. 

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Homework help:

Fall 2025; Monday-Thursday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. 

Starting this fall, Brilliant Pontiac will offer after-school homework help sessions for students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. These sessions aim to support young learners with their schoolwork, encourage curiosity, and promote positive study habits. We are looking for volunteers to mentor students, assist with homework questions, model patience and a love for learning, and help tidy and organize materials at the end of each session. This is a great opportunity for older students to step into a meaningful mentoring role!

The Children’s Healing Center is the first year-round recreation facility providing social and emotional healing for kids with weakened immune systems and their families in a safe, clean environment. We utilize volunteers for all of our programs and would love for you to join us for a weekly shift at the Center.

Monday morning (9:30am-12:30pm) 

Tuesday evening (5:30-8:30pm) (filled for this semester) 

Wednesday afternoon (1:30-4:30pm) - through September 24  (filled for this semester)

Wednesday (9:30-12:00, 11:00-1:00, 12:00-2:30) - starting October 1  (filled for this semester)

All volunteers are subject to an interview and background checks. We also require a flu shot if you want to volunteer between December 1 and May 1.

The Children’s Healing Center is the first year-round recreation facility providing social and emotional healing for kids with weakened immune systems and their families in a safe, clean environment.

We utilize volunteers for all of our programs, but need extra help for our weekend programs from September through June. There are two Saturday programs (morning from 10-12 or afternoon 2-4) and one Friday night (6-8pm) each month. 

Volunteers will assist kids with art projects, playing games, serving snacks, and supervising free play.

All volunteers are subject to an interview and background checks. 

The Ypsilanti Thrift Shop is in urgent need of volunteers that can commit to a regular shift, for example, a morning or afternoon 3.5 hour recurring shift for a day during the week. (there may be a Saturday morning shift still available too). Come join us to support your community and have some fun!

The Ypsilanti Thrift Shop, a local all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit, is in need of volunteers to help in our Marking room.  In this position you would be responsible for receiving, sorting, marking/pricing, and displaying donations for sale. You may also assist with bi-annual changeover and other duties as needed. You would also enjoy first dibs to purchase donated items! This is a very sociable and fun way to give back to the community as all of our net proceeds are donated to local charities and people in need. Schedule based on your availability within our hours of operation.

Children's Literacy Network's in-person BookPALS program is continuing during the 2025-2026 school year in Detroit! The program will share the joy of reading and encouragement of reading confidence with local 2nd grade students while practicing crucial literacy skills. The highly-loved program is in need of volunteers that are available during the school day for in-person volunteering at local elementary schools. Please continue reading for more information on the volunteering experience with in-person BookPALS.

To begin the volunteer process please take a moment to complete the two part Volunteer Information Form and a CLN staff member will contact you soon! 

Please contact Program Manager, Kara, at kara@childrensliteracynetwork.org, for information about the school's location and how to sign up!

Take to the scenic streets of Ann Arbor to help E-Race the Stigma with the 14th running of the Probility Ann Arbor Marathon. With a variety of running events that appeal to all ages and abilities, you’ll find that the Ann Arbor Marathon is your ideal fall race event, whether you’re walking your first 5K or running your 50th marathon.

NAMIWalks is NAMI's oldest signature fundraising program, and it enters 2025 as one of the nation's Top 30 Peer-to-Peer events for the fifth straight year, after raising an unprecedented $15.8 million and registering a program high 8,859 teams. Over 190 community Walks are presented by NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates from coast to coast. United by our unique experiences, journeys and stories, NAMIWalks is a beautiful celebration of each of us - individuals with mental illness, their family, their loved ones, their community. 

Children's Literacy Network's in-person BookPALS program is continuing during the 2025-2026 school year in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti! The program will share the joy of reading and encouragement of reading confidence with local 2nd and 3rd grade students while practicing crucial literacy skills. The highly-loved program is in need of volunteers that are available during the school day for in-person volunteering at local elementary schools. Please continue reading for more information on the volunteering experience with in-person BookPALS.

To begin the volunteer process please take a moment to complete the two part Volunteer Information Form and a CLN staff member will contact you soon! 

Please contact Program Manager, Kara, at kara@childrensliteracynetwork.org, for information about the school's location and how to sign up!

Children's Literacy Network's provides a remote volunteering opportunity with our program, Virtual BookPALS. The program was designed to bring students together from different socio-economic backgrounds and build a love of reading through new friendships! We partner with schools from Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Detroit.
We are in need of volunteers who are interested in serving as weekly remote reading mentors to 2nd and 3rd grade students. Please continue reading for more information on the volunteering experience of BookPALS.

To begin the volunteer process please take a few minutes to complete the two-part Volunteer Information Form and a CLN staff member will contact you soon! 

Please contact Kara at kara@childrensliteracynetwork.org for more information.

Children's Literacy Network's Family Literacy Interactive Program (FLIP) Night is an interactive, family-oriented literacy night held at our partner schools throughout Washtenaw county. FLIP Nights provide families with the opportunity to build literacy skills and enjoy a fun evening together by offering important components: interactive literacy-based activities for children and their families, breakout workshop for parents and caregivers to help them support their child's literacy development, STEM activities, power food packs and dinner, and books for children of all ages.

We are currently looking for individuals or groups that would be interested in volunteering for our 2025-2026 FLIP Nights (dates to be announced).

Volunteers for FLIP run interactive literacy activities for participating families, work the welcome table, help with dinner, and pass out books throughout the night. We hold FLIP nights at local Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor Elementary Schools. This volunteer experience can be a one-time commitment or ongoing, based on your preference. This opportunity is great for individuals, groups, teens and families! Events generally occur between 4:30-7:30PM.

Please email Program Manager Kara at kara@childrensliteracynetwork.org for more information regarding event locations and how to sign up as a volunteer!

PURPOSE OF JOB: Plan party theme and purchase party supplies for children living at an emergency shelter. Able to raise or provide own funds to purchase party supplies.

TIME COMMITMENT REQUIRED:  2 HOURS including:

+ watch short informational video about Wayne Metro, which can be accessed at: https://youtu.be/Yhqy_kTenKI

+ 1.5 hours estimated for doing volunteer job duties below

DUTIES

PURPOSE OF JOB: Plan and purchase hygiene or school supplies to fill kits or backpacks for individuals and families. Kits and backpacks will go to either youth, families, or adults served by our Housing Services or school-based whole family support services. Volunteer needs to be able to raise or provide own funds to purchase supplies.

TIME COMMITMENT REQUIRED:  2 HOURS including:

~ watch short informational video about Wayne Metro, which can be accessed at: https://youtu.be/Yhqy_kTenKI

~ 2 hours estimated to complete job duties

DUTIES

QUALIFICATIONS

LOCATION:  REMOTE = You may do this volunteer job anywhere!

BENEFITS

APPLICATION PROCESS:  Contact email below to ask questions and schedule pick-up/drop-off:  wmdevelopment@waynemetro.org.

It is that time of year again! If you LOVE Halloween come join us for our annual Trunk or Treat!

Every year, we make a fun and safe opportunity for HAVEN clients and families to dress up in their Halloween best and trick or treat!

Volunteers for this opportunity are being asked to decorate their trunk in a nonviolent Halloween theme, supply and pass out candy or small trinkets(please do not bring clothing items or personal hygiene items stick to fun Halloween things) to HAVEN's youth! This is a great family event that volunteers children may also join in the fun and trick or treat as well!

We are so excited to have you join us again this year!

**As with last year, each trunk is limited to 4 volunteers. If you are coming with a team, please be sure to register as a team.**

In the notes section of your registration, please include whether you are decorating a trunk, or are a participant. Time is 5:00pm start, however if you would like to set up trunk or need longer time to set up please feel free to come at 4:30pm!!

Any questions about registering please email Kim Liepshutz at kliepshutz@haven-oakland.org

We are looking for volunteers to help on our Crisis Line. We are looking for volunteers to serve on our 24/7 crisis line to assist youth, parents, and other community services that are in crisis or need to be connected to Ozone House or other community resources. We ask that if you volunteer, you agree to serve for at least 8 months/2 semesters as a crisis line counselor covering at least one shift a week. Shifts are Monday-Friday from 9am-12pm, 12-3pm or 3-5pm

Please take some time to read about our programs on our website before filling out this application: https://ozonehouse.org/. We will have a training coming up in October. More details on that training coming soon. Please apply if interested

If you have any questions, please email ozone.ctc@gmail.com

Please fill out the volunteer application at the following link: https://forms.office.coDm/r/Kpn5pPNwQ

No martial arts experience necessary. Team GUTS is looking for volunteers for our martial arts class to assist participants and encourage them. No martial arts experience is necessary, just a big heart. You will assist with not only being positive, but partnering up at times while holding pads and doing drills together. Our class is challenging, fun and so badly needed for those that don't have the same opportunities as others. 

todd@teamgutsmichigan.com

Join the University of Michigan's Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum as a Conservatory Ambassador Volunteer this winter season. Ambassadors are a welcoming face in the conservatory and often answer, direct, and informally educate our visitors on the space and happenings. This role is indoors in our beautiful (and warm!) conservatory and requires standing, walking, and engaging with the public.

Learn more about the volunteer role and apply your interest here.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) is a transformative force for social and ecological resilience through the waters and lands we steward. Learn more about how we turn this commitment into action. Your involvement as a volunteer supports sustainability initiatives, positioning you at the forefront of efforts to preserve biodiversity and cultural richness. By nurturing our gardens, fields, and natural habitats, you play a vital role in safeguarding the well-being of our local ecosystems and fostering a healthier environment for all. Immerse yourself in the beauty of our gardens and arboretum while actively participating in their care and conservation, engaging directly with nature. 

Join the University of Michigan's Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum as a Conservatory Care Volunteer this winter season. Enjoy the tropical, temperate, and arid environments of the Conservatory and assist with general maintenance. Activities include weeding (TOP priority), sweeping (second priority), pruning, seasonal plantings, signage care, and other work to help make the Conservatory look inviting and neat.

Learn more about the volunteer role and apply your interest here.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) is a transformative force for social and ecological resilience through the waters and lands we steward. Learn more about how we turn this commitment into action. Your involvement as a volunteer supports sustainability initiatives, positioning you at the forefront of efforts to preserve biodiversity and cultural richness. By nurturing our gardens, fields, and natural habitats, you play a vital role in safeguarding the well-being of our local ecosystems and fostering a healthier environment for all. Immerse yourself in the beauty of our gardens and arboretum while actively participating in their care and conservation, engaging directly with nature. 

Brilliant Cities is a neighborhood-powered model ensuring children 0-8 are school-ready, healthy, and supported. We do this by transforming houses into community hubs where children and families have what they need to thrive. We currently operate 16 hubs across 24 neighborhoods in Detroit and 1 in Pontiac, where families with young children come for programs in education, health, and family support, and to build community with one another to receive love, safety, growth, and fellowship.

We’re currently looking for community members to help share the amazing work happening at Brilliant Detroit by hanging and passing out flyers in the neighborhood. Your support helps connect families to free programs, resources, and events that strengthen our community.

What Community Outreach Can Look Like:

We would love to have you join us in supporting and sharing the mission of Brilliant Detroit! Once you submit your interest in this volunteer role, you’ll receive a confirmation email outlining the next steps in our onboarding process, including confirming your availability to schedule an upcoming outreach project.

In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, it’s more important than ever that our nation’s youth are prepared to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and know how to gather and evaluate evidence to make informed decisions.

Brilliant Detroit holds 2 STEM courses each quarter that aims to develop and grow their skills in science, technology, engineering, math, and they even get to explore art. 

STEM Facilitator commitment - Quarterly Course and 3-5 hours/week training and coaching sessions.

Stories and STEM - Brilliant children ages 3-5 and their families enjoy stories and fun engaging hands-on projects in a variety of literacy-based science activities together that bring the exciting world of science to life!

Adventures in Science - Brilliant children ages 6-8 participate in step-level learning through inquiry and the exploration of a variety of science topics to develop and process skills for science (observing, hypothesizing, asking questions, problem solving, and drawing conclusions through hands-on experiences with a focus of allowing children's ideas come to life!

Unique Brilliant volunteers are needed to help prepare, facilitate and grow the minds of our Detroit youth. If you have a love of STEM (A), connect with us today! (Trainings and check-ins with our program creator happen frequently).

Dates: Quarterly

Locations: Various Brilliant locations - Where We Are

How: In-person

Volunteer Roles: 

**Volunteers working directly with Brilliant children, families, and staff are asked to have a background check**

Brilliant Cities/Detroit takes great pride in honoring National Days of Service that closely aligns with our mission and core values to educate and unite individuals, families, service clubs, businesses, schools, and faith-based organizations in volunteerism throughout the year.

 (Please NOTE: This opportunity is an in-person volunteer role)

We are looking for volunteers who are excited about working with kids and supporting literacy in Detroit to lead reading cohorts at our hubs. Brilliant Detroit is excited to partner with Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and Raising a Reader (RaR) to offer literacy enrichment programming at our sites!

As a volunteer leader, you would come in-person to one of our sites to lead an hour-long program once a week from October to May. 

Volunteers will be partnered with a child and be tasked to read aloud books and lead activities based on those books with that child. This opportunity is best suited for those with early childhood education experience and/or interest, however, anyone can lead these programs. These programs work best when the facilitator is upbeat, energetic, compassionate, and engaging.

These programs are offered in person at hubs based on the volunteer's availability. Volunteers will be placed based on the needs of our hubs and the volunteer's proximity to one of our Brilliant pods.

A Brilliant Detroit orientation and background check are required to serve in these programs. Specialized training for this opportunity will also be given after the background check is completed. For more information, please contact volunteer@brilliantdetroit.org.

Be Brilliant - Share their knowledge in Health, Wellness, and/or Nutrition by supporting or leading a specialized health program.

Brilliant volunteers are needed as facilitators, presenters and general assistance for health, wellness, and nutrition nights.

Brilliant Detroit provides a range of programming for our parent caregivers throughout the year. Our work is simply not possible without those who volunteer their time to create and advance so many of our programs at our hubs. As we support our adult participants, volunteers are needed to lead child enrichment activities during parent resource group meetings.

Child Enrichment Volunteers provide weekly support by interacting with children of all ages for specific timeframes by facilitating group activities with children.

While this volunteer opportunities will require a longer time commitment, we guarantee that it will make a lasting impact not only on the life of a Brilliant Detroit child, but on your own!

Requirements of Positions:
1. At least 15 years old
2. All volunteers must have an informal interview with Brilliant Detroit Volunteer Engagement Manager and pass a background check.
3. Must adhere to the confidentiality of Brilliant parents and children.
commit to keeping the confidentiality of all AVFC locations and clients at all times.
4. Must support and follow all guidelines, policies and procedures associated with Brilliant Southwest Detroit.
5. Have reliable transportation to volunteer locations.
6. Will be evaluated for the duration of your volunteer role. 

Qualifications for Positions:
1. Willingness to work within guidelines, policies, standards and mission statement of Brilliant Detroit.
2. Patience and understanding when dealing with children of all ages.
3. Awareness of and sensitivity to cultural/ethnic differences and/or willingness to learn.
4. Ability to work in a team and accept guidance and direction from staff members.
5. Experience with diverse cultures, languages and situations desirable but not mandatory.
6. Experience working with children
7. Bilingual abilities highly desirable but not mandatory.

COMMITMENT:
Commit to a regular schedule detailed below

Brilliant Staff fully recognize that burnout is a real issue in today’s world and in this line of work. We encourage volunteers to practice self-care activities.

**Volunteers working directly with Brilliant children, families, and staff must complete a background check.

Annually during the months of April, May and June, our Brilliant Detroit team, participants and volunteers gather at each of our neighborhood hubs for spring cleaning and outdoor beautification. We know that spring symbolizes a time of rebirth and growth, so we take this time to come together as a community to clean-up our yards, prepare our beds and gardens, plant flowers, and make other improvements to our outdoor spaces. It is also a time for us to renew our commitment to kid success neighborhoods. 

Brilliant Springwells

Brilliant Southwest

Brilliant Russell Woods

Brilliant Osborn

Brilliant Morningside

Brilliant  McDougall Hunt

Brilliant Martin Park Old Location

Brilliant Martin Park New Location

Brilliant Littlefield

Brilliant Grixdale Farms

Brilliant Fitzgerald

Brilliant Dexter-Linwood

Brilliant Outer Drive/Hayes

Brilliant Cody Rouge

Brilliant Chandler Park

Brilliant Central

Brilliant Brightmoor

Note: These volunteer projects are outdoors. Please dress appropriately for the weather.

Volunteer tasks may include:

Please reach out to volunteer@brilliantdetroit.org with any questions.

Brilliant Cities/Detroit currently has 17 operating hubs and there are always different opportunities that are in need of volunteer assistance. Whether it is reading one-on-one or with a group, managing activity stations, painting a room, event material set-up/restore, categorizing the book library, or sorting in-kind donations; our hubs have specific needs that arise throughout the year.

Current volunteer opportunities:

Brilliant Cody Rouge Basement and Garage Organization

Help create a welcoming and efficient space for our Brilliant participants! We're looking for volunteers to assist with organizing the garage and basement rooms, assembling shelving units, and storing totes—some heavy lifting required. Your volunteer efforts will support smoother operations and ensure resources are accessible in a clutter-free environment. Flexible scheduling available, please inquire. 

-

Brilliant Brightmoor Organization & Redesign 

Our Brightmoor location is currently looking for volunteers to help organize basement rooms, assemble shelving units, and properly store totes to declutter and sort items. Volunteers will assist in creating storage solutions and ensuring our programming areas remain clean and functional. Tasks may include lifting and moving boxes, sorting supplies, and organizing materials. Volunteers are needed weekdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. throughout June.

-

Brilliant Littlefield Organization and Redesign

Brilliant Detroit's Littlefield hub is looking for volunteers to help with site redesign and organization. This will include storage-organizer assembly, supply and material relocation, and clothing closet organization. Volunteers are preferably needed on Fridays from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. or Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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Brilliant Fitzgerald Clothing Closet Organization 

Brilliant Detroit's Fitzgerald Hub hosts a community clothing closet that provides free clothing to those in need, helping to boost self-esteem by allowing individuals to feel confident and included with appropriate attire. This is especially crucial for families facing clothing insecurity, as it can positively impact academic performance and social interactions. The Fitzgerald location is seeking monthly volunteers to assess the quality, condition and seasonal appropriateness of their clothing donations and help categorize them by type and size. Volunteers are preferably needed during the week between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on a monthly basis.

Dear Kid Success Champion,

We are thrilled to share the launch of Brilliant Detroit's very own podcast -- Brilliant Together.

Each podcast episode will feature top experts, leaders and changemakers dedicated to strengthening families and children from belly (0) to eight. 

Conversations explore a range of topics and thought leadership on engaging families, mobilizing communities, and providing children with the support they need to reach their full potential.

Brilliant Together is now available on Apple and Spotify. We are so excited to have made this project a reality and to continue lifting up the amazing work happening in the early childhood education and care space.

Yours in Kid Success,

Brilliant Detroit is dedicated to building kid success neighborhoods where families with children 0-8 have what they need to be school ready, healthy and stable. We do this by providing proven programming and support year round out of Brilliant Detroit homes in high-need neighborhoods.

If you are not already, become a FAN of Brilliant Detroit and receive the latest information happening at Brilliant!

Emergencies happen whether we are prepared for them or not. Some Brilliant Detroit families are not prepared for the emergencies that happen in their lives. 

Host a Collection Drive and make Brilliant things happen! With these new pantries, families who are facing an unexpected hardship are able to receive support to help them through. 

Brilliant accepts community support daily from 11 am to 2 pm Monday thru Thursday.  To schedule a donation drop-off, please reach out to volunteer@brilliantdetroit.org.

Suggested items Include:

We are currently looking for volunteers to help in person at our Larkins location!  This role would be helping us unload and bring in donated items into our building and help organize items for storage or for distribution to one of our other locations.

We are looking for volunteers who would be available during our operating hours: Monday-Friday 10am - 4pm.  We are looking for short OR long term volunteers! We do ask that if you are able to volunteer for only one day that you can help for a minimum of 3 hours.  However, we would love it if someone was able to come a couple times a week over the next few weeks!

Because of the nature of this role, you should be comfortable lifting/carrying items weighing at least 25lbs.

If you are interested in making a palpable difference in the life of a child, this is an opportunity which we believe you will find quite rewarding. 

The Family Learning Institute (FLI) is seeking adult tutors to work one to one in reading with an student assigned them for the year.  The program works with second through fifth grade students from Erickson and Holmes Schools in Ypsilanti who are a year or more behind grade level in reading, and referred by their teachers.  

Tutors receive training in teaching reading and are provided a lesson each week by a reading specialist. The lessons provide intensive  instruction and practice  in phonics and word recognition.  This tutoring program differs from many other volunteer-based reading programs in that tutors do not just read with students, but provide instruction to students, with the goal of student mastery of foundational skills and independence in reading. 

Once a week, hour-long tutoring can be either in-person at Holmes or Erickson schools before the start of the school day, or virtual, with on-line Zoom meetings during late afternoons. All lessons are provided tutors by the tutoring director.  

Tutoring takes place for an entire academic year, generally beginning in October and ending at the end of  May.  Some students are also referred to the program later in the school year, so some tutors begin tutoring after October. Tutors can chose from a number of options for day and time of tutoring. 

Before-school in-person tutoring tutoring takes place Mondays at 8:15 (at Erickson) or Tuesdays at 8:00 (at Holmes). Virtual tutoring takes place Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays after school, from either 5:30-6:30, or 6:30-7:30.  

Tutors receive preliminary training and ongoing support through the school year. 

We ask that volunteers are U of M or other college graduates, U of M employees, or retirees. 

For more information, contact Caroline Nathans, FLI-Ypsilant Program director, at cfnathans@ameritech.net. 

Do you love entrepreneurship, mentoring, or teaching?

Enriching Young Minds invites you to be part of something powerful Young Black Girls in Business (YBGB) a youth entrepreneurship program for Black girls ages 6–16 in Detroit.

We’re looking for passionate, friendly volunteers to lead one or more engaging workshops (twice a year) for one or all of our age groups:

Just some of the workshop topics we love:

Tech & Innovation

Public Speaking / Pitching

Branding & Design

Financial Literacy

Marketing / Social Media

Product Development

Leadership & Confidence

STEM

Or… pitch your own topic!

Volunteer Benefits

Inspire the next generation of young Black girl CEOs

Gain hands-on youth development & workshop design experience

Expand your professional network

Strengthen leadership & communication skills

Ready to Make a Difference?

Click here to complete a workshop form
We can’t wait to see what you’ll bring to our community!

Raise a puppy that can change two lives, yours and someone who is blind!

Puppy raisers take a puppy into their home and raise it for a specific period of time. While in the home, with the guidance of Leader Dog staff and specially trained volunteers, you will be training the puppy in basic house manners, commands and exposing it to new environments in a safe manner. Once the raising period is over, the puppy returns to Leader Dog to start its formal guide dog training. 

Puppy Raising Options

Since no two households are alike, we’ve created multiple puppy-raising opportunities to fit different lifestyles. Which option is right for you?

One Household

It’s the traditional way to puppy-raise and perfect for families, college students, active
singles, retired couples and empty nesters. Usually, the puppy is picked up at 8 weeks and is raised in the home for 12-14 months.

Co-Raising (Primary and Secondary Raiser)

This option is for someone who wants to share duties with a person from another household.

Pass-Along

One raiser has the puppy for the first six months, and a second raiser has the puppy for the next six months.

Corporate

Employees can raise puppies individually or in teams of up to three.

Campus Puppies

For college students raising on campuses approved by Leader Dog.

To learn more, we recommend you attend an in-person information session or, watch a pre-recorded session. Visit www.leaderdog.org.

*a full application, screening and criminal background check are required of all applicants

Do you love dogs? Looking for a way to give back while caring for a beautiful female and puppies? This might be the opportunity for you!

We breed Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers, and Lab/Golden crosses to be guide dogs for people who are blind or low vision. We are looking for homes to host both female and male breeders for the duration of their breeding careers. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and will bear the legal responsibility for the host dog. However, families can have children participate in the care of the dog to share in this rewarding experience!

There are several new volunteer models including hosting a female when she is not whelping puppies, or you can host a female only when she is whelping. Or you can temporarily foster a breeding dog while they are waiting for their placement.

Hosting requires a significant time commitment, physical strength, and the ability to travel to our campus in Rochester Hills, MI several times a year. Dogs are 12-15 months of age when placed in a home. Females retired from our program by the time they are 4-5 years of age, but males can continue in the program until they are approximately 9 years old. Both are then adoptable by the host home when their breeding careers are over! Volunteers must live within 6 hours of our campus in Rochester Hills, MI, and have no more than 2 vaccinated, spay/neutered pet dogs in your home.

To learn more, visit our website and/or sign up to attend a virtual informational session.

Client Drivers provide more than just a ride. They are the first person and last person from Leader Dog that the client interacts with in person. They provide a reassuring presence and help make clients feel welcome and cared for. Volunteers fill a vital role in making the client’s experience comfortable and enjoyable.

Client Drivers use Leader Dog vehicles to provide safe transportation for Leader Dog clients to and from the Leader Dog campus in Rochester Hills, MI. In addition to providing transportation, volunteers also escort clients through airport security and to their gate, problem-solve if a flight is delayed or cancelled, and make clients feel at ease under stressful travel situations. Drives are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays, so weekend availability is required for this position.

Skills and Attributes:

Ideal candidates for this role will have the following attributes.

•Have an impeccable driving record

•Have the ability to drive a large passenger van

•Have a flexible schedule with weekend availability

•Be friendly, helpful, dependable, professional, compassionate, and a good problem-solver

•Be able to comprehend, follow, and retain both written and verbal directions

•Use discretion, sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality

•Ability to work closely with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) through airport security checkpoints

•Comfortable working with people who are blind and low vision, using Human Guide techniques (training provided)

•Comfortable around large dogs (Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers)

•Be commitment to our mission: “Our mission is empowering people who are blind or visually impaired with lifelong skills for safe and independent daily travel.

Requirements:

•Must be at least 18 years of age.

•Complete an online application, pre-screening phone call and in-person interview

• Pass a criminal background check

• Pass a Department of Motor Vehicles check (this is in addition to the regular background check performed on all on-campus volunteers)

• Complete onboarding documents and participate in all trainings

• Regularly record service hours in our online database

• Have a cell phone to use in case of emergencies

• Ability to bend at the waist, stoop at the knee, and walk with excellent balance

• Be able to assist clients with luggage and packages (up to 50 lbs)

*Be able to commit to at least 2 weekend drives per month

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD)? The Washtenaw Association for Community Advocacy (WACA) is seeking dedicated individuals to join our board of directors and support our mission of empowering people with I/DD to participate fully in community life. As the only nonprofit organization in Washtenaw County specifically focused on advocacy for people with I/DD and their families, WACA has been serving our community for over 75 years!

Position Title: In-Person Lead Tutor

Location: In-person (elementary schools).

Time Commitment: Weekly Tutoring sessions from October to May.

About the role

We are also looking for a few committed volunteers to serve as Lead Tutors. In addition to regular tutoring responsibilities, Lead Tutors play an essential leadership role in supporting the tutoring environment and serving as a bridge between tutors and program staff.

You’d make a fantastic tutor if you:

No teaching experience is required! Just a desire to support, encourage, and inspire young learners. If you love sharing knowledge and want to make a positive impact, this opportunity is for you!

Please join us at Trinity Health Ann Arbor’s ecological stewardship workday! We’ll be removing invasive shrubs on hilly topography to promote the native plants and animals in this amazing woodland.

Please make sure to:
– Wear closed toe shoes
– Dress for the weather
– Bring drinking water
– Bring gloves and loppers if you have them
– Bring sunscreen and bug spray

Please click the link to sign-up!

https://huronriverwatershedcouncil.my.salesforce-sites.com//registerVolunteerEvent2024?cid=701PB00000QKaQAYA1&

https://huronriverwatershedcouncil.my.salesforce-sites.com//registerVolunteerEvent2024?cid=701PB00000QKQ7TYAX&

Please join us at Trinity Health Ann Arbor’s ecological stewardship workday! We’ll be removing invasive shrubs on hilly topography to promote the native plants and animals in this amazing woodland.

Please make sure to:
– Wear closed toe shoes
– Dress for the weather
– Bring drinking water
– Bring gloves and loppers if you have them
– Bring sunscreen and bug spray

Please click the link to sign-up!

https://huronriverwatershedcouncil.my.salesforce-sites.com//registerVolunteerEvent2024?cid=701PB00000QKrVpYAL&

Please join us at Trinity Health Ann Arbor’s ecological stewardship workday! We’ll be removing invasive shrubs on hilly topography to promote the native plants and animals in this amazing woodland.

Please make sure to:
– Wear closed toe shoes
– Dress for the weather
– Bring drinking water
– Bring gloves and loppers if you have them
– Bring sunscreen and bug spray

Please click the link to sign-up!

https://huronriverwatershedcouncil.my.salesforce-sites.com//registerVolunteerEvent2024?cid=701PB00000QKqgEYAT&

La Casa Amiga is seeking caring adult mentors to support youth and foster meaningful connections with their families. As a mentor, you'll provide encouragement, guidance, and friendship—becoming a trusted role model who makes a lasting impact.

What’s involved?

Your time and support can make a world of difference.

Are you prepared to make a difference?

Contact Graciela Flores at hernandezg@ccsem.org to learn more and start the application process.

Join us Saturday, October 18th in Recreation Park off Congress Street for a park cleanup!  Help pick up litter and do a little maintenance of the park.   Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, as well as weather-appropriate gear such as drinking water or a rain jacket. Off-street parking is available off Congress at Oakwood, we'll meet up at the pavilion.  Registration is welcomed but not required

Join us Saturday, November 15th in Candy Cane Park off Roosevelt Street for a park cleanup!  Help pick up litter and do a little maintenance of the park.   Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, as well as weather-appropriate gear such as drinking water or a rain jacket; the event may be cancelled in the case of sever weather. On-street parking is available on Roosevelt, we'll meet up at the tennis courts.  Registration is welcomed but not required.

Looking to make a significant impact with a minimal time commitment? Interim Home Health and Hospice is a full-service hospice that serves clients in Wayne, Oakland, and parts of Livingston County. Providing support for those who are living with a terminal illness is an essential service that hospice provides. In order to provide this much needed service, many things are happening behind the scenes that allows us to enhance the care and support we are able to provide. We are currently seeking an Office Assistant Volunteer to assist our hospice with writing out cards for our hospice program, as well as other miscellaneous administrative tasks as they may arise. This role requires good penmanship, time management skills, and ability to adhere to designated deadlines.  This Volunteer would report to our Novi office once per month for a 1–2-hour shift (may vary depending on the month). Volunteers must be 16+ years of age, and will be required to participate in our regulatory onboarding and training process. For more information, or to schedule a volunteer interview, please contact Lisa Gardner, Volunteer and Bereavement Coordinator, at ligardner@interimhealthcare.com, or by phone at (248) 986-1272.   

Hope Clinic offers free, whole-person healthcare to those without insurance, and we need folks to help in our Food & Basic Needs program!

Hope Clinic's Walk-up Groceries allow clients to get produce, flowers, and a few shelf-stable foods each week without a scheduled appointment. The first 30ish minutes of each shift is the busiest, but things quiet down significantly after that.

Our Monday shift is a great way to test the waters if you are a first-time volunteer at the Farm Stand, but our greatest needs are for volunteers on Thursdays and Saturdays.

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

Team GUTS is looking for volunteers to come help our participants with encouragement and having fun. Volunteers will move along with our participants and "buddy up" to create a more fun environment while getting in some great exercise. No dance experience is needed and like that saying says:  "Dance like no one is watching".

Description of our class:

Team GUTS Cardio Dance Fusion is a combination of Jazz, Hip Hop, Latin, and Zumba styles of dance designed to provide easy movements, free range of motion and low impact footwork that can improve coordination, flexibility and cardio health. Experienced instructors use fun and energetic music to provide a creative and inclusive workout.

todd@teamgutsmichigan.com

To further its mission of environmental stewardship, the Coast Guard needs environmental educators to speak to community groups, public events, schools, and museums to improve public knowledge about human-caused threats to marine life on the Great Lakes and connected waterways. As an environmental educator, you will deliver presentations about environmental laws, marine safety, aquatic invasive species, fishing debris, illegal dumping, and boating’s impact on the environment and participate in relevant events such as beach cleanups or boating fairs. A primary focus is maritime pollution prevention and outreach about environmental laws, however within this area educators specialize in venues, topics, and audiences that interest them and may speak to adults, children, or both. Presentations can be made in teams or (after training) as a solo instructor operating independently, or educators can staff booths at public events. 

Benefits

This opportunity provides professional training relevant to teaching and maritime careers and will provide a boating license (in Michigan, called a boater education card). Working at a federal agency can be helpful for future government careers. You can achieve certifications in many areas, including teaching and leadership, that can be used on your resume. Successful participants are eligible for internships that offer course credit. You will receive insurance coverage and liability protection while volunteering. You will receive base exchange shopping privileges in Detroit and online. Training will be provided at no cost.

Qualifications

You must be comfortable interacting with the public and be a confident public speaker. No prior experience is necessary, but prior coursework in environmental science will allow you to progress through training more quickly, or skip some training. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a uniformed service – you must be willing to acquire and wear a uniform in a professional manner. As many different tasks are available, your physical ability usually does not limit participation. If you incur expenses to volunteer (such as travel, uniforms, or meals if necessary) these are not usually reimbursed by the Coast Guard. US citizenship is required. 

Timing

You can set your own hours and location by scheduling and accepting speaking engagements at locations and times convenient to you, except for check-in/training meetings usually held Wednesdays at 7pm (these meetings can be done via Zoom). Almost all required training and mentoring can be completed online, but outreach presentations must be in-person.

Process

Due to the training provided, this is a long-term opportunity. Initial training generally takes at least six months and includes a background check. If you express an interest you will be invited to visit a meeting as a guest and to discuss your interests and availability.

Note: This is a volunteer service opportunity, not an ROTC program. There is no legal service obligation. No college scholarships are available. The Coast Guard Auxiliary does not perform military or law enforcement missions.

Coast Guard search and rescue operations locate people in danger and return them to safety. The Coast Guard is the lead federal agency for search and rescue response over water; it needs auxiliary volunteers to supplement its operations. The Coast Guard responds to about 20,000 search and rescue cases each year, saving 3,500 lives using assets that include 2 air stations and 13 small boat stations in Michigan. As a search and rescue volunteer, you train and patrol on boats and/or you staff a communications center or rescue coordination center to prepare for and organize emergency response. You will learn about boat handling, rescue, marine survival, navigation, towing, radio communications, and to plan and execute search patterns. Most activities are not on-call and have a predictable schedule. Training is provided on campus at the University of Michigan; travel to a boat or station is also required, but can be coordinated with other volunteers.

Benefits

This opportunity provides professional training relevant to maritime careers and/or boating, and will provide a boating license (in Michigan, called a boater education card). Working at a federal agency can be helpful for future government careers. You can achieve certifications in many areas, including leadership, that can be used on your resume. Successful participants are eligible for internships that offer course credit. You will receive insurance coverage and liability protection while volunteering. You will receive base exchange shopping privileges in Detroit and online. Training will be provided at no cost.

Volunteers are needed to protect the Great Lakes and other waterways. The Coast Guard is the primary federal response organization for marine pollution, and it receives more reports of pollution than it can respond to. As a pollution investigator/responder, you will be trained in the marine science of pollution and environmental protection law. Your job is to initially document a spill, assess its magnitude, forecast the consequences, recommend a cleanup strategy, identify who is responsible, and monitor the situation. (Note: Pollution responders do not clean up pollution themselves.) Pollution responders may also participate in the response to natural disasters, mass casualties, and ship collisions. Pollution responders may choose to be on call for emergencies, or they may focus on simulations and trainings which have a predictable schedule. This job does not usually involve interacting with the public.

Benefits

This opportunity provides professional training relevant to maritime careers, environmental science, and/or boating, and will provide a boating license (in Michigan, called a boater education card). Working at a federal agency can be helpful for future government careers. You can achieve certifications in many areas, including leadership, that can be used on your resume. Successful participants are eligible for internships that offer course credit. You will receive insurance coverage and liability protection while volunteering. You will receive base exchange shopping privileges in Detroit and online. Training will be provided at no cost.

Qualifications

No prior experience is necessary. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a uniformed service – you must be willing to acquire and wear a uniform in a professional manner. It is not necessary to serve on a boat: this job includes important work in a variety of settings. Because of this, your physical ability usually does not limit participation. If you incur expenses to volunteer (such as travel, uniforms, or meals if necessary) these are not usually reimbursed by the Coast Guard. US citizenship is required. 

Interim Home Health and Hospice is a full-service hospice that supports a person’s quality of life when time is limited. We provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support to those who are terminally ill, and those that love and care for them. Our hospice is located in Novi, Mi. Our service territory includes Wayne, Oakland, and parts of Livingston counties.  As member of our Hospice team, volunteers have a tremendous impact on the lives of the patients and families we serve, as well as the community and agency as a whole. Are you someone who enjoys research and writing content? Our Bereavement Program is looking for a volunteer who would be willing to assist our Bereavement Coordinator in writing content for a Grief and Loss newsletter. This volunteer would be responsible for researching and writing educational content provided by the Bereavement Coordinator. This volunteer role would end once the project is completed.  This would be a great role for anyone who is looking to volunteer remotely, have a flexible schedule, and wants to practice their creative writing and research skills.  Must be 16+ years of age, and be willing to complete our volunteer onboarding and training requirements. For more information, or to apply, contact Lisa Gardner, Volunteer and Bereavement Coordinator, at ligardner@interimhealthcare.com, or at (248) 986-1272.

Make a Difference in Your Community—Right from Home!

Are you passionate about your local community and want to help others discover how to give back? We're looking for seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help us update and enrich local pages on Ways to Connect, our national directory of volunteer sites.

Ways to Connect is a crowdsourced platform designed to boost traffic and engagement to local volunteer websites—like this one! With just a bit of online research and your enthusiasm, you can help neighbors easily find volunteer opportunity platforms, service clubs, mutual aid groups, and more—making it simpler than ever for everyone to make an impact locally.

What You'll Do:

Conduct quick, simple online research to identify active service clubs, mutual aid groups, and upcoming volunteer events in your community.

Enhance your community's page on Ways to Connect by ensuring the information is current, accurate, and inviting for potential volunteers.

Optional: Promote your community’s page on social media to help friends and family find a path to service.

Why Volunteer with Inspiring Service?

Easy and flexible: Volunteer remotely at your convenience.

Immediate community impact: Help your neighbors discover meaningful ways to contribute.

Small commitment: Volunteer for as little as 2 hours, or as much as you'd like.

Growth opportunities: Volunteers can explore deeper involvement through our Ambassador program.

Ready to help your community thrive? Join us today and make volunteering more accessible for everyone.

The Children’s Healing Center is the first year-round recreation facility providing social and emotional healing for kids with weakened immune systems and their families in a safe, clean environment. We utilize volunteers for all of our programs and would love for you to join us for a weekly shift at the Center.

Monday morning (9:30am-12:30pm) 

Tuesday evening (5:30-8:30pm)

Wednesday afternoon (1:30-4:30pm) - through September

Wednesday (9:30-12:00, 11:00-1:00, 12:00-2:30) - starting October 1

All volunteers are subject to an interview and background checks.

The Children’s Healing Center is the first year-round recreation facility providing social and emotional healing for kids with weakened immune systems and their families in a safe, clean environment.

We utilize volunteers for all of our programs, but need extra help for our weekend programs from September through June. There are two Saturday programs (morning from 10-12 or afternoon 2-4) and one Friday night (6-8pm) each month. 

Volunteers will assist kids with art projects, playing games, serving snacks, and supervising free play.

All volunteers are subject to an interview and background checks.

Overview:
Join the Post Adoption Resource Center (PARC) as an Administrative Volunteer and play a key role in supporting behind-the-scenes efforts that help serve families in 13 counties in southern MI. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys organization, working with data, and contributing to meaningful work in a supportive office environment.

Schedule: Ongoing/recurring. A minimum of 2–4 hours per week is preferred, with flexibility for additional hours.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

·       Assist with entering and verifying data for state and agency reporting.

·       Track and monitor internal spreadsheets.

·       Work with reports and other administrative tools.

·       Create resource sheets and other materials for families.

·       Take on additional administrative projects as needed.

Ideal Qualifications:

·       Prior administrative experience is a preferred.

·       Strong attention to detail.

·       Comfortable using computers and software tools.

·       Reliable and organized.

Requirements:

·       Must complete an interview.

·       Must pass a background check. 

About the 30 Wishes Campaign:
The 30 Wishes Campaign celebrates National Adoption Month every November by recognizing 30 outstanding adoptive families across Michigan through the MARE program (Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange). Nominated families are selected by a panel and granted a wish valued at up to $200. These wishes are fulfilled and then there are special celebration events that include lunch, dessert, family activities, and meaningful recognition of their incredible journeys.

Planning for this campaign begins well in advance, and we’re seeking a dedicated volunteer to help bring this impactful initiative to life!

Schedule: Ongoing/recurring through the end of November
Estimated Weekly Hours: 4-10 hours/week

Volunteer Responsibilities:
You’ll work closely with the campaign coordinator to support each phase of the campaign, from nominations to fulfillment to event day coordination. Tasks may include:

·       Assisting with overall campaign coordination.

·       Sorting and organizing family nominations for panel review.

·       Tracking scoring results and helping identify the top 30 families.

·       Contacting selected families to gather their wishes.

·       Ordering and tracking the delivery of wish items.

·       Collecting necessary documentation such as photo releases.

·       Communicating with families regularly for follow-up and logistics.

·       Supporting event planning and implementation in November.

Note: This role begins with a slower pace but will ramp up quickly once families are selected.

Ideal Volunteer Qualities:

·       Friendly, warm, and communicative personality

·       Strong attention to detail and organization

·       Comfortable overseeing timelines and tasks

·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills

·       Experience in event planning or project coordination (preferred)

Requirements:

·       Must complete an interview.

·       Must pass a background check.

Mercy Education Project (MEP) is a learning community that believes every girl has a right to reach her full potential. MEP focuses on math and reading improvement with evidenced based, one-to-one tutoring for girls grades 2-12. We help girls who are one or more years behind their grade level in reading or math to gain the academic confidence they need to succeed in school. Volunteer tutors are needed in-person for a once-a-week commitment from 5:30-6:30 pm during the school year (September - May). Our one-to-one afterschool tutoring program fosters meaningful relationships that support the whole student. Substitute tutors are also needed.

Training is provided as part of the volunteer tutor onboarding process. Our learning program includes individualized student curriculum using online software. All prospective tutors complete an application form, a background check, online training modules, and in-person training.

Washtenaw Promise is a local non-profit dedicated to improving educational opportunities for children in Washtenaw County. This fall and winter, we’re seeking enthusiastic volunteers for our Read with Kids program — a literacy initiative designed for children ages 3–6.

In partnership with the Children’s Literacy Network, this program offers young learners valuable one-on-one and small group reading time with caring adults. Volunteers help foster early reading skills and a lifelong love of books through fun, engaging, and meaningful interactions.

No teaching experience is necessary — we provide all the training and support you need to feel confident and prepared. Volunteers are asked to commit just one hour per week. Your time can make a lasting impact. Join us in creating brighter futures, one story at a time.

Sign up today to Read with Kids!

Washtenaw Promise is a local non-profit dedicated to improving educational opportunities for children in Washtenaw County. This fall and winter, we’re seeking enthusiastic volunteers for our Read with Kids program — a literacy initiative designed for children ages 3–6.

In partnership with the Children’s Literacy Network, this program offers young learners valuable one-on-one and small group reading time with caring adults. Volunteers help foster early reading skills and a lifelong love of books through fun, engaging, and meaningful interactions.

No teaching experience is necessary — we provide all the training and support you need to feel confident and prepared. Volunteers are asked to commit just one hour per week. Your time can make a lasting impact. Join us in creating brighter futures, one story at a time.

Sign up today to Read with Kids!